Interviewing with Japanese Companies in Thailand: How to Prepare
Understand what Japanese interviewers and Thai HR at Japanese companies look for, from self-introductions and punctuality to questions about staying long term.
You have an interview with a Japanese company in an industrial estate near Chonburi. The first round is with Thai HR. In the second, a Japanese manager will sit in, with an interpreter. You have heard that Japanese companies care about manners and punctuality, but you are not sure what to do differently in the room. This article sums up what to know and prepare.
What Japanese companies look for in candidates
Every company has its own culture, but interviewers at many Japanese companies value similar things.
- Reliability: arriving on time, doing what you say, complete documents
- Long-term commitment: many companies invest in long training, so they want to know if you will stay
- Teamwork: more than standout individual results
- Attention to detail and reporting: especially in factory and quality roles
Before the interview
Know the parent company
Read what the parent company in Japan does, what the Thai branch makes or sells, and who its main customers are. If the parent has an English website, read its corporate philosophy page too. Japanese interviewers are often pleased when a candidate can mention it.
Prepare for language
If the ad specifies a JLPT level, prepare at least your self-introduction in Japanese. If not, English, or Thai through an interpreter, is fine, but a short, polite greeting in Japanese helps set a good tone. Do not claim a higher level than you have, as the interviewer may switch to Japanese on the spot.
Complete, tidy documents
Print your resume, copies of your degree, and relevant certificates, and put them in a neat folder. Some companies still ask you to fill in their own application form, so bring a pen.
In the interview room
Self-introduction
Prepare about one minute: name, education, experience relevant to the role, and why you are interested in the company. Speak slowly and clearly so the interpreter can keep up. Pause regularly and look at the interviewer, not only at the interpreter.
Basic etiquette
- Arrive about 10 to 15 minutes early
- Wait to be invited before sitting down
- Receive business cards with both hands and keep them on the table in front of you during the interview
- Answer the question directly, without going on longer than needed
Common questions and how to answer
“Why did you leave your previous job?”
Answer without criticising your former employer. Focus on what you want to learn, for example: “I want to work in quality control with a clear system and learn Japanese manufacturing standards.”
“How long do you plan to work here?”
Answer sincerely and link it to growth: “I want to grow in this field over the long term and hope to take on bigger responsibilities in the company.”
“What would you do if you hit a problem at work?”
This is your chance to mention hou-ren-sou: reporting, informing and consulting, an idea many Japanese companies use. For example: “I would report to my manager right away with the information I have, even if I have not solved it yet, and suggest the fix I have in mind. I would not let the problem sit quietly.”
In a Japanese company, bad news reported early beats good news that arrives late.
Questions to ask back
Near the end, the interviewer will usually ask if you have questions. Asking about the work shows you are serious. Prepare two or three, such as:
- “In the first three months, what would the team expect me to learn or take on?”
- “Does the company offer training, or send staff to learn in Japan?”
- “How does this team usually report progress, daily or weekly?”
What to avoid
- Raising salary before the interviewer does
- Saying you like to change jobs often to gain experience
- Interrupting, or talking so long the interpreter cannot keep up
How to prepare
- Read about the parent company and the Thai branch, and note 2 or 3 points that interest you
- Write a one-minute self-introduction and practise saying it slowly enough to interpret
- Prepare one true story that shows you report problems early and work as a team
- Practise answers with Interview Lab and check whether they are concise
If you are still looking for roles at Japanese companies, search the job listings, and read more on researching an employer in Researching a Company Before the Interview.